Walter Haisler Aerospace Engineering Department Texas A&M University

Syllabus - Spring 2007
Lecture Notes
Introduction to FEM Theory and Analysis for Engineers (in .ppt format)
A04, Introduction to Finite Element Theory
A01, Sizing Procedures
A02, External Loads
A03, Material Properties
A05, Bending and Extension of Thin Plates (Theory & Analytical Solution)
A06, Plate Bending Finite Element
A07, Introduction to Composite Materials
A08, Effective Moduli of Continuous Fiber-Reinforced Lamina (transformation of stiffness from material 1-2
          to global x-y axes, effective stiffness for a laminate, force & moment resultants, stress & strain in lamina)
Laminated Composite Plate Analysis Code (.exe file), Laminate Code Input Instructions, sample material file (.txt file), Foam_core_H45 (.txt file), Foam_core_HT90 (.txt file),   Examples of Numerical Results
A09, Laminate Plate Analysis
A10, Introduction to Column Buckling
A11, Introduction to Buckling by T. Pollock (pdf)
A12, Design for Buckling of Columns and Plates
A13, Materials Selection in Structural Design

FEMAP Tutorials
Tutorial 1 - Plane Stress Modeling of a Uniaxial Rod with Axial Point Load (for Femap v9 and NX Nastran) - pdf file
Tutorial 2 - Plane Stress Modeling of Beam Bending (for Femap v9 and NX Nastran) - pdf file
Tutorial 3 - Plane Stress Modeling of Beam Bending with Modeling of Support Structure Included (for Femap v9 and NX Nastran) - pdf file
Tutorial 4 - Plane Stress Modeling of a Plate with a Circular Hold (for Femap v9 and NX Nastran) - pdf file
Plane Stress Modeling of Uniaxial Rod and Cantilever Beam with Point Load (for Femap v8.2)
Plane Stress Modeling of Flat Plate with Hole and Distributed Edge Loads
Simple Wing Spar (pdf)
Simple Wing Box Beam (zip)
Simple Rectangular Wing Planform with symmetric airfoil (zip)
B707 Tapered, Swept Wing (zip)  

ABAQUS Tutorials
ABAQUS 6.6 Documentation (on aero web site)
Tutorial 1 - Analysis of an Aluminum Bracket in Plane Stress (pdf file)
Tutorial 2 - Flate Plate with Hole (Word file)
Tutorial 3 - Plate with Non-Circular Cutout (Word file)
Tutorial 4 - Plate Buckling (Word file)

Reference Material
Aircraft Structural Details (Photos) - opens a new browser window
Links to Structures, Design, FEM, MIL Handbooks, and geneneral Aerospace Engineering Topics

Project/Homework Assignments
Homework 1, Homework 2, Homework 3, Homework 4
Getting Familiar with FEMAP (7 & 8) and CAEFEM , Getting Familiar with FEMAP 9.0 and NX Nastran
Femap 7.1 Example Mod files:  Ch3post.mod, Ch4done.mod, Ch7wing.mod    <- Right click on link and select "Save as"
FEMAP 7.1 instructions for Chapter 3 Plate with Hole problem (for Ch3post.mod file)Project 0.5 - Bracket with end moment applied
Project 1 - Cantilever Spar Beam
Project 2 - Cantilever Wing Box Beam
Major Project 3 - Definition and time table - Define your own Major Project
Alternate Major Project 3 - Urica Wing Structure Design by FEM, Urica I- delta cp plot for cruise condition (.bmp),
                                                         Urica I- delta cp data file for cruise condition (.dat)
Major Project 3 Report Requirements
Project 4 - Laminated Plate Design
Project 5  - Stiffened Plate Buckling Design
 



Some Very Useful Information for Students
Tips on maintaining confidence, taking tests, understanding different learning styles, and identifying and taking advantage of learning resources on campus.  Follow this link to Professor Richard Felder's page for several useful and/or interesting articles for students. Professor Felder is the Hoechst Celanese Professor of Chemical Engineering at North Carolina State University and has contributed over 100 publications to the fields of engineering education and chemical process engineering.

FEA Concepts/Basics - Free Interactive Learning Tools:FEA Software: FEA Library

I know you people would have searched for FEA materials, unless you are strong at fundamentals there is no point in saying that you are well versed with FEA software's and you can handle any analysis projects. As you know people in those days much before existence of these software's Engineers used to do mathematical calculations using pen and paper, even they were very much accurate. But as the technology as grown we have forgotten about Basics rather we were encouraged to learn software tools. Most of you would have come to the situation where you need to compare the software result with manual calculation but you don't how to proceed and how to arrive the result. That's the point I making here..

Okay lets do our best to over come these situation, First we will try to learn what is FEA, Theory behind this one,The mathematical part involved in this and so forth.

If you would like to really do this what I have said so far, this is site you have to look at Finite Element Method universal resource.

FEMur website is being established to serve the user community of the Finite Element Method. It will provide resources for educators, students, researchers, and practicing engineers.

Knowledge is of little use if it is little shared. The fundamental goal of FEMur is to make information on the finite element method (FEM) readily and comprehensively available. To this end, instructional, interactive learning guides are being developed and finite element resources on the Internet are being found and cataloged.

Interactive learning section contains Review of Linear Algebra:Matrix Algebra and Equation Solving...The Basic Finite Element Equation:One-Dimensional Spring Approach...

Do you know What is Stiffness Matrix ? Wondering heard it somewhere.. Buddy kindly you visit FEMur they explained in easy way. Not only this you can also learn about The Basic Finite Element Equation,Matrix Algebra,Matrix Definition,Gaussian Elimination,Matrix Calculus.. Click on each title to navigate to the corresponding learning page. Also you can find test problems.

I am sure you must have learnt all these topics at the college level but probably you don't what's role of all these stuff in FEA. After going through this site your confidence level would have much higher than ever before in solving FEA problems. Happy Surfing.

Finite Element Books - Free FEA Books Directory, Information about Finite Element books and Conference proceedings published worldwide

Hi Readers.. Lets turn our focus on other part of Product Development which is FEA Finite Element Analysis. I feel there is huge boom in this field people started to know the value of FEA that too software has emerged which can do the analysis in a quick time effectively. This is one side of the coin, the other side is, What is FEA all about? How Does it help the Design Engineer?

FEA consists of a computer model of a material or design that is stressed and analysed for specific results. It is used in new product design, and existing product refinement. A company is able to verify a proposed design will be able to perform to the client's specifications prior to manufacturing or construction. Modifying an existing product or structure is utilized to qualify the product or structure for a new service condition. In case of structural failure, FEA may be used to help determine the design modifications to meet the new condition.

FEA uses a complex system of points called nodes which make a grid called a mesh This mesh is programmed to contain the material and structural properties which define how the structure will react to certain loading conditions. Nodes are assigned at a certain density throughout the material depending on the anticipated stress levels of a particular area. Regions which will receive large amounts of stress usually have a higher node density than those which experience little or no stress. Points of interest may consist of: fracture point of previously tested material, fillets, corners, complex detail, and high stress areas

FEA has become a solution to the task of predicting failure due to unknown stresses by showing problem areas in a material and allowing designers to see all of the theoretical stresses within. This method of product design and testing is far superior to the manufacturing costs which would accrue if each sample was actually built and tested.

Now can you understand what's the value FEA, Some of the FEA software are ANSYS,COSMOS,Nastran etc., Each software is familiar for different application.

No wonder what the demand for FEA specialist has grown high in the recent years all over the world.

Okay Let this be.. How can you learn FEA, you need to know the books to refer and understand the concept. Let me tell you the site now where you can find the list of books of all authors and description of each books.

Take the first step to learn FEA now..

To Logon click here..

The book collections are so huge, so you find the books either by author, book title, subject etc., You can even post a mail to moderator to get more information about the books.